GOD’S HAND OF VICTORY (2)

“For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was YOUR RIGHT HAND, YOUR ARM…” – Psalm 44:3a

God’s people did not possess the Promised Land by their own human power but by GOD’S HAND of VICTORY: “For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was YOUR RIGHT HAND, YOUR ARM, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them” (Psa.44:3). Repeatedly, God supernaturally intervened, giving His people Victory at moments when it did not seem possible for them to survive let alone prevail: “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in the days of old” (v.1). Their deep knowledge of the Victory the grace-filled Hand of God gained for them in the past gave them a deep trust for Him in the present. That’s the Power of Transgenerational Transmission of Truth!

The people of Israel confessed in the final chapter of Joshua: “For the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed” (Jos. 24:17). It is ironical that it was the same Hand of God by which He expelled the nations that He established His people: “You drove out the nations with YOUR HAND, but them YOU PLANTED…” (v.2). However, what stands out most pointedly in these scriptures is how all the credit for Victory goes to God. The psalmist recalled the military victories of the past, all of which came, not through the sword or the bow (v.6). Rather, they triumphed by the Hand of the Lord who “command victories” for His people (v.4).

The people could therefore “boast all day long, and praise” the name of the Lord forever (v.8). The same principle applies for us whose lives are not marked by military tussles against flesh and blood enemies, but against unseen forces – “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph.6:12). Victory is not won through the “arm of flesh” but by putting on “the whole ARMOUR of GOD” (3Chr.32:8; Eph.6:11). Psalm 146:3 warns: “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help”!

The same Everlasting Arm, Victorious Hand, and radiant Light of God’s countenance are available, ready, willing, and stretched out to move on behalf of whosoever trusts in Him. It’s often easy, after a victorious battle, to forget just how close we were to failing before God rescued us. But, following the example of this psalm, we must give God the credit for all the blessings that, in the eyes of the world, we have earned through our prowess and effort. Yes, in a sense, some things are accomplished through our gifts, talents and efforts, but even these are God-given: “Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant…” (Dt.8:17-18b).

In essence, it’s not solely by our brilliance, diligence, business acumen, or smartness that we’ve achieved success, promotions, social status, or attained enviable heights in life. Since all of our gifts and our very life itself are favours from the Lord, and since HIS HAND of VICTORY is holding us at all times in ways we can’t even begin to imagine, we must ultimately praise Him for all blessings. The hymnwriter says: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow”! Let’s profusely praise the Lord for the life He has given us, the gifts He has endowed us with and the blessings that He continues to pour on us through that life and those gifts. By His Hand of Victory, we possess our Promised Land!